A troll emerged from the bushes, hobbling as he hurried towards Juno. He wore a tattered and mismatched cloak. His skin was green, and his eyes darted around erratically as he spoke.
"Whoa, whoa, what do we have here?" he muttered to himself as he examined Juno's wounds. "Looks like we got ourselves a hurtin' unicorn. Nasty business, that. Nasty business indeed."
He pulled out a bag of strange-looking herbs and began to sprinkle them over Juno's wounds. "Don't you worry, my little friend! I've been healin' creatures like you for my whole life."
As he worked he stole small glances at the dishevelled group, they were shocked at the small troll's sudden appearance. The group almost could seem to decide what to do, the troll looked harmless enough and Juno's cries seemed to soften as the strange healer sprinkled his herbs. "You know, back in my homeland, we'd walk around dressed as richly as jaybirds, not boring clothes like you lot."
He continued to mutter to himself as he worked, but his healing skills were undeniable.
The strange green troll straightened up from where he had been tending to Juno's wounds and looked at Etherea, Princess Andrea, and Oakley.
Andrea raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Why did you help us? How did you know we wouldn't hurt you?" Andrea knew she should be grateful, but after that whole debacle with Johno the backstabber, the Princess was on edge (she was all about those survival skills you know).
The troll chuckled. "Oh, I have my ways of hearing things. I knew I had to come."
"What does that even mean you cree-" Andrea started.
Etherea stepped forward, confusion written all over her face. "Where did you come from?"
"Ah, that's a tricky question, isn't it?" The troll said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Andrea thought it was not, but the troll continued on.
"I've travelled to many far, far away places, where the trees are as tall as mountains and the rivers run with gold. But that was a while ago."
Oakley tugged at Etherea's sleeve. "He talks funny. Is he okay?"
Etherea smiled reassuringly at the young boy. "He's just a little different, Oak."
Andrea nodded in agreement, different was certainly one way of putting it. But, he had just saved Juno's life. Plus, a future Queen and current Princess shouldn't be so rude. "Yes, thank you for healing Juno -"
A sudden gust of wind blew through the clearing, stirring up the leaves and causing even Etherea's curls to whip around her face. A flash of fire streaked through the air, a magnificent bird with bright red and orange feathers soaring down from the sky, its talons gripping rolled-up parchment.
Andrea stepped forward out of habit, hand outstretched, for the bird to gently place a scroll in her palm before vanishing as quickly as it had come.
"Okay, now what the hell was that?" Etherea said after a moment.
Andrea just gave a coy smile as she unrolled the parchment and began to read the message, her brow suddenly furrowed in concentration.
"A letter? What does it say?" Oakley asked eagerly.
As Princess Andrea read the letter, her face drained of colour.
"This has to be a lie, this can't be true. They really don't care about me," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm just a bargaining chip to them."
"Who? Who doesn't care about you, Andy?" Etherea pressed.
"My parents. My marriage to Prince William is apparently the only thing of importance to our King and Queen, and if I fail to bring him back, then I shouldn't bother returning to Greencourt at all."
Andrea had hoped they were concerned for her safety, but their words confirmed her fears - they hadn't sent anyone after her. They simply didn't care for her.
Oakley looked up at Etherea worryingly, while Etherea herself was trying to keep her face as neutral as possible. She had suspected that Andrea's upbringing was tense with all the gossip that floated through the kingdom, but she hadn't realised just how callous the royal family could be.
"What are we going to do?" Etherea asked, her voice low.
Andrea took a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities, she wiped the tears beginning to spring from her icy blue eyes. "We just need to find Prince William and stop the evil Villainess. If we can do that, then I can return home and get you the money I've promised you. Then my parents will welcome me back once I've married my future king. And I - we - can pretend like I never received this letter."
Etherea looked at Andrea sympathetically, "Your parents sound terrible. I can't believe they would treat you like that."
Andrea's face turned red and hesitated, before the troll interjected, "Oh yes! I know this story! The queen is only your stepmother! In case you didn't know, Princess"
Andrea's eyes widened in shock, surprised at the troll's lack of manners. But before she could say anything, Etherea interrupted, unable to resist adding to the conversation.
"Oh yeah, and don't you have a younger brother too, Andy?" she asked.
Andrea sighed, irritated by the troll and Etherea's bluntness. "Yes, of course I have a young brother - a half-brother" she confirmed, before turning to the troll, "and obviously I know she's my stepmother, you absolute buffoon."
Etherea raised her hands, "Hey! Don't be rude to the person who just saved our most annoying group member's life. And you've just never spoken about your brother in all the time we've been travelling together."
Andrea huffed, clearly not comfortable talking about her family, "Brother or not, stepmother or real mother - it doesn't change the fact that my parents only care about me when it suits them."
The troll looked at Andrea with a perplexed expression. "But why?" he asked. "You are their daughter, are you not?"
Andrea let out a deep sigh and shook her head. "When my father remarried, they conceived the little princeling in record timing, it was such a joyous time for the royal family," Andrea said sarcastically. "When stepmother gave birth, they finally had a proper heir. My half-brother. After that, I became worthless to them."
Andrea turned to the troll, annoyed. "Also, sorry random stranger who is all up in my business - who the heck are you?"
The troll scratched his head, "Oh, my apologies! The name's Roy - Old Man Roy. But back to this fascinating story! Worthless? How can a person be worthless?" he responded, completely oblivious to Andrea's dig.
Andrea's eyes filled with tears, this green booger of a troll actually being kind of sweet. "Well… to them, I'm only a pawn to be married off to the future king. Without that, they don't care about me. To them, I'm a worthless princess, not even royal heir material!"
Etherea placed a comforting hand on Andrea's shoulder. "We care about you, Andrea. You're not worthless to us," she said sincerely. "We'll rescue Prince William and get you out of this mess."
…
The group continued their journey towards the fortress, a cold sun watching them as they walked. The landscape was filled with sparse purple trees and wilted wildflowers dotting the forest floor. They crossed a small river, the sound of the water trickling over the rocks and pebbles filling the air.
Long shadows began to cross the forest, and the group stopped for a brief rest before their last stretch, before they set up camp. Oakley carefully took the sleeping Juno out of his backpack, checking the unicorn's injuries before placing him back. Juno had been out cold for the entire trek after the troll named Roy had given him some heavy painkillers.
Determined to reach their destination, they continued on, the stars slowly appearing in the sky above them. The eve was quiet, save for the occasional hoot of an owl.
Princess Andrea gazed out at the surrounding landscape when she noticed a presence behind her. She turned around and saw Roy walking a few paces behind them, his face serious.
Andrea was startled at the sight of him and asked, "Roy, what are you still doing here? I thought you left after you helped Juno?" In her exhaustion, she hadn't even noticed the troll was still walking with them, she didn't think he would stick around after working his healing heeby jeeby on Juno.
Roy turned sheepishly, almost embarrassed, before he responded, "Well, I've known you were in these woods before you yelled for my help with your horse friend. I promise I didn't mean to follow you… I just get a little lost and confused in the mornings."
Andrea asked, "And why, pray tell, are you still following us? And your answer better not be creepy," her voice laced with suspicion.
"After you called out for help, I wanted to tell you and warn you - you're not going the quickest way to get to the castle."
Andrea looked at Roy, exasperated, "Why are you only telling us this now?! Why are you even helping us?!"
"I've been in these woods for a long time now. I know the safest paths. And well… I didn't want you to tell me to go away if I said anything. It's very lonely around here."
Roy hesitated for a moment before replying to Andrea's second question, "I've seen Odessa before, she is both the scariest and most beautiful human I ever did meet. I have this fog, all around my brain, I think she did this to me. I- I get so confused. But I know she made me this way, and I need her to fix it."
"Odessa, that's a pretty name. But I'm not asking about Odessa, Roy, I'm asking about the villainess," Andrea stated, she was totally done with Roy's shit.
"You didn't really think her name was actually the Evil Villainess, right miss?" Roy asks worriedly. "You know that's just what everyone calls her because they refuse to acknowledge her personhood, not that I would acknowledge it, not after what she did…"
Andrea was startled. "The Evil Villainess's name is Odessa, and how the hell would you know that?"
Roy gave a loud sigh. "I keep trying to tell you! She did something to me! Nothing I do can fix it! Oh to all the high heavens, it's much too painful to speak of, I don't know why I bother!"
Etherea piped up, sensing Andrea's uneasiness and the overall tension in the group. "Oh, Roy! I'm so sorry she did something to you, she's an awful witch. But seriously, we don't have time to waste on a longer route. We need to get to the castle as soon as possible so Andrea can return home and get married."
Roy shook his head and said, "I understand that, but trust me, the longer route is safer. There are some dangerous creatures and treacherous terrain on the path you're taking. It will only add on a few days."
Andrea looked conflicted, not sure who to believe. She turned to Oakley, "What do you think, Oak?"
Oakley, happy to be included, chimed in, "Roy seems like he knows what he's talking about."
Andrea looked at Etherea for a moment, she seemed unsure but eventually nodded in agreement. "Okay, let's take the longer route. Roy, as bat-shit crazy as you are, you clearly had a knack with your healing mumbo jumbo. I can definitely see it being super handy in our travels, so if you want we would love for you to join us. Do you have something to sleep on?"
Roy nods, "I actually have a tent, miss, indeed I do."
…
The group set up camp on the seemingly never-ending river. Oakley built a fire while Etherea helped Andrea roll out their sleeping mats. Roy really did have his own tent, which he pulled from a large pack he carried on his pack. It looked so small in his hands, but as he erected the tent it was five times larger than the troll. The group looked on stunned. "Damn, where can I get one of those?" Oakley muttered.
As the group worked away Juno remained knocked out, they had laid him out on a soft bed of leaves. Roy paced around the campsite, muttering to himself. He suddenly declared that he was going to bed, surprising the rest of the group considering how early the night is - the sun hadn't even set yet.
Nonetheless, the others follow suit not long after, exhausted from another long day of walking and their terrifying encounter with the rabid Johno.
As the group slept peacefully, Princess Andrea awakened with a jolt, feeling that she couldn't sleep she slipped out of her bedroll to get a drink. As she reached the river, Andrea noticed a dark silhouette moving through the trees. Andrea rubbed her eyes, thinking she must be imagining things. When she looked again, there is no hint of any human being in the woods other than the Princess herself. Andrea's heart raced as she hurried back to her bedroll, feeling uneasy as she drifted off to sleep once again.
…
Three days passed as the group followed Roy's lead, walking during the day and setting up camp at night. Roy continued his habit of going to bed early, while the others stayed up a bit longer to talk or keep watch for enemies. Each night, as Princess Andrea awoke to grab water, she saw a glittering silhouette in the tree line. At first, she thought it was just her imagination. She must be clearly longing for her future husband, she told herself. But when it continued to happen, her uncertainty faded.
Andrea approached Etherea as they walked one morning, her eyes heavy with sleeplessness. "Etherea, I have to tell you something," Andrea said in a hushed tone. Etherea, who was dragging her feet, looked up at Andrea with a tired expression. "What is it?" she asked, her voice low.
Andrea hesitated before saying, "I keep seeing someone in the forest at night. It's just a silhouette, but I think it might be a man."
Etherea's eyes widened. "Andy babe - what do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean, every night when I get up to get water, I see him. And then when I rub my eyes, he's gone," Andrea explained.
Etherea looks worried. "Why are you only telling me this now? And haven't you heard of stranger danger? Why would you keep drinking your water alone? Do you think it might have been that loser Johno?"
Andrea shook her head, "Woah, too many questions, but no, I don't think so. Not after how abysmally you beat him in that fight. Besides, the man I'm seeing is way more built than Johno. And when I say built, I mean he's definitely not built like a bug! Oh, I definitely didn't mean he has a sexy physic, because girl! This ring has a finger, I mean a finger has a ring! Actually, just forget about it okay!"
"Okay… We'll need to keep an eye out and be extra cautious then," Etherea said, giving the princess a little bit of side eye. Andrea simply nodded in agreement.
The conversation is cut short by the sound of a groan escaping Juno.
"Oh, my head," he grumbled, wincing as he touched the bandage around his forehead.
Oakley, who had been carrying Juno in his backpack, immediately dumped it, pulling out and hugging Juno tightly. "You're awake!" he exclaimed happily.
Juno winced in pain but couldn't help but smile at Oakley's excitement. "Yeah, I'm awake," he said, rolling his eyes playfully. "But I feel like a troll sat on me."
Oakley laughed but looked over at Roy in an accusatory way. "Um, well, I'm just glad you're okay," he said, hugging Juno gently.
The group doted on him for a short while, but when Juno continued to grumble and complain about his injuries, the group remembered how annoying he was. Oakley listened patiently though, trying to be sympathetic.
As they continued, the mood shifted. Juno's recovery had brought some relief, but the looming confrontation with the villainess Odessa filled them with a sense of dread. Andrea's sightings of the mysterious figure in the forest only added to their unease. The once-jovial banter between the group has been replaced with quiet contemplation, each lost in their own thoughts.
Roy spoke up, "Fear and worry are only like shadows in the light. The more we step towards the sun, the smaller they become. You are all like stars in the sky, shining bright with hope and determination."
Juno gave a disapproving neigh, "And who the heck is this feller?" Oakley gave him a quick shush, letting him in on the whole life-saving rescue.
Roy looked around the group and noticed the unease still lingering in the air. He scratched his head and let out a heavy sigh. "Oh, I thought that would work," he mumbled to himself. But the rest of the group had continued walking already.
…
Andrea and Etherea huddled around the fire, a comfortable silence loomed over the two. The Princess was still concerned if the mysterious figure would be lurking in the forest again tonight.
Etherea had been watching Andrea's increasingly furrowed brow and simply had to know what she is thinking. "You're getting wrinkles, you're frowning so hard. What's the matter, Andy?"
Andrea sighed, "It's the man I keep seeing at night. I thought we would have lost him by now, but I have still been seeing him most nights."
"Yeah, I can see why that's a problem, we need to find out who he is and why he's following us," Etherea said, staring into the flames.
Andrea nodded, "But how can we catch him? He disappears almost as soon as I see him," she said, biting her lip in thought.
Etherea paused for a moment, thinking. "I have a crazy plan that just might work! We will BOTH follow him tonight, only this time I'll cast an illuminating spell on him. That way he'll light up so we know where he's running off to" she suggested.
Andrea was thrilled, "That's a fantastic plan! But we need to be careful, we don't know what he's capable of," she warned, looking around at the darkness beyond the fire's reach.
"With my magic and your increasingly better skills with Jam's sword, I think we'll be able to take him down," Etherea teased, both girls knowing full well that Etherea's magic far outweighs the Princess' limited knowledge of the ways of steel.
They turned their attention to the treeline, ready to catch the mysterious figure in the forest. There's no way we're gonna let another man get the better of us, they both thought.
…
After a few hours and no sign of the man, Andrea suddenly stood up ready to call it a night. But right as she began to turn her head towards Etherea, she spotted the man's silhouette in the treeline once again. "There he is!" she exclaimed, trying to whisper. "Let's go!"
Etherea raised her hands and concentrated. Suddenly, a bright white light emanated from both her palms, before casting a brilliant glow over the wood, illuminating the figure.
The girls took off running, eager to catch the fleeing figure that was only a few passes ahead of them. The man was intent on darting between the trees, hopelessly trying to evade them. Andrea smiled wickedly, with the bright light surrounding him, there was nowhere to hide.
Andrea and Etherea quickly closed in on the figure, and the man turned to face them.
"What in the hobgoblin? It's you?" Andrea demanded, trying to catch her breath.
…
Johno, the evil bug guy, knelt before Odessa's throne with a fervent fervour burning in his eyes. He lowered his head with an agonizing shiver and spoke, "My Queen, I have failed you."
Odessa's lips curled in a wicked sneer, and she cocked an eyebrow with a sultry air of amusement. "Oh, have you now? I take it that the princess and her friends still journey together?"
Johno's head bobbed frantically, sweat dripping from his forehead as he spoke, "Yes, your majesty. Despite my every effort to sow seeds of distrust amongst them, they stand together with unbreakable bonds. They are a formidable force."
Odessa leaned forward on her throne, her eyes blazing with a dangerous intensity that made Johno tremble in fear. "You failed to destroy them, dear Johno. But do not fret, for soon, I will have my opportunity to separate them once they arrive at my castle."
Johno's gaze was fixed on Odessa, his admiration for her oozing from every pore. "How will you do it, your Highness?" he asked breathlessly.
Odessa smiled darkly, "Oh loyal Johno… I will use every weapon in my arsenal, including the one that matters most to me... Princess Andrea."